Chapter 286: Drifting Apart

The three uncles all stood up upon hearing this, their eyes filled with shock.

“Brother Goat… you…” Uncle Tiger said in disbelief, “You could have left long ago, couldn’t you?! You’ve been accumulating ‘Dao’ for us all this time?!”

“I told you, I have no family. The fact that we’ve shared meals at the same table makes us family.” Brother White Goat then took out three sheets of paper from his pocket.

“Unfortunately, the Celestial Dragon knew all the ‘Dao’ was earned by me, so he only gave out two ‘Zodiac Ascension Gambit Contracts’ and one ‘Interview Room Collaboration Contract’.” Brother White Goat spread the papers on the table. “Pick whichever you prefer… whether you want to gamble on becoming an ‘Earth-level’… or choose to be a collaborator who never has to hand over ‘Dao’… the choice is yours…”

The three uncles looked down at the papers on the table, their hearts uneasy.

“No matter which path you choose…” Brother White Goat continued, “I’ll always be here waiting for you. In the meantime, I’ll take care of Mouse. After all, there are many roads in this world, and everyone has their own to walk.”

The three uncles exchanged glances, each seemingly hesitant about their choice.

After a long silence, Uncle Black Goat reached for a ‘Zodiac Ascension Gambit Contract,’ signed his name, and then folded it in half.

I knew—’Zodiacs’ could never reveal their true names.

Now, only one ‘Zodiac Ascension Gambit Contract’ and one ‘Interview Room Collaboration Contract’ remained.

Uncle Tiger and Uncle Snake appeared even more hesitant.

“Little Tiger, you should leave,” Uncle Snake said after a moment of silence. “I feel fine staying here. I’ll keep Brother Goat and Little Mouse company.”

“What the hell?!” Uncle Tiger cursed. “Who the hell said you get to decide that?! What about your family?!”

“Ah…” Uncle Snake waved his hand. “I’ve made too many mistakes. I don’t even have the face to see them… Let me just live here.”

Before Uncle Tiger could react, Uncle Snake snatched the ‘Interview Room Collaboration Contract,’ bit his thumb, and pressed a bloody fingerprint onto it.

“You mother—” Uncle Tiger slowly stood up. “Who said you get to decide for me?! I haven’t even made up my mind yet!”

“Come on, Money-Losing Tiger, go see your daughter,” Uncle Snake said with a smile. “No matter how many years it takes… make sure you see her.”

“You—” Uncle Tiger panted heavily, clearly furious.

“Oh, don’t be so mad!” Uncle Snake said. “As long as you don’t die in the interview rooms, we can still meet every night!”

Uncle Tiger slowly sat back down, his face full of defeat.

I didn’t fully understand what was happening… but I felt a deep sadness, as if I was slowly losing them…

“Mouse, don’t look so upset,” Brother White Goat said. “It won’t be long before your uncles become as strong as I am.”

“Huh…?” I looked at him. “R-Really?”

“Mhm. They’re all exceptional,” Brother White Goat nodded.

From that day on, the atmosphere among the five of us began to change.

Every time Uncle Tiger and Uncle Black Goat returned, they carried a strong metallic scent.

They barely spoke to me anymore… Their eyes would always avoid mine whenever I tried to talk to them.

What was wrong with them?

Luckily, Uncle Snake still talked to me… He told me that Uncle Tiger and Uncle Black Goat were in a bad mood because they were doing things they didn’t like.

But he wouldn’t tell me what those things were.

This went on for about a year.

In that time, not a single participant came to my game.

My warehouse was small and remote. Though I’d collected many random items to fill it up, no one ever came to play.

Come to think of it, ever since this game was finalized, I hadn’t hosted a single ‘participant.’ It made me feel a little down.

Uncle Tiger and Uncle Black Goat’s auras also gradually changed… Their masks seemed to become more lifelike.

Then, half a year later, Uncle Black Goat completely transformed.

That day, when he returned, I realized he had become like Brother White Goat—his goat head was no longer a mask, but a real one.

They said Uncle Black Goat had achieved this state in record time, faster than any other ‘Zodiac.’

A year and a half… was that really short?

That day, he came specifically to thank Brother White Goat and packed his things, ready to leave the room.

Brother White Goat stopped him, and the two exchanged quiet words—but judging by their expressions, it didn’t seem pleasant.

After that, Uncle Black Goat never returned to the room.

Only Uncle Snake and Uncle Tiger came back every few days.

I felt our ‘family’ was slowly falling apart… I didn’t know what to do, so I spent all my free time helping Brother White Goat clean the room…

I did every chore I knew, hoping it might make them happier.

But they all seemed to carry heavy burdens, and I didn’t know how to help.

Uncle Tiger barely spoke to me… I was starting to not know how to act around him. Was he mad at me?

One day, I ran into Sister Ruoxue again. She came specifically to see me and gave me another pack of snacks.

I couldn’t bear to eat them, so I brought them to Uncle Tiger after work. Even though I didn’t know why he was upset with me, I hoped he wouldn’t stay mad.

But when he saw the snacks, he just silently took them without saying a word.

I almost cried, but then I realized—Uncle Tiger and I weren’t even related. He never owed me anything…

Brother White Goat also seemed off. In my memory, he’d always been a very serious person.

But lately, he often seemed lost in thought.

What was he thinking about?

Half a year later, another change happened.

That day, like usual, we gathered in Brother White Goat’s room for a meal.

Though the atmosphere grew more silent with each passing day, I still felt safest when I was with them.

“Tiger, how many are left for you?” Brother White Goat asked.

“Almost there… Only two left in my room,” Uncle Tiger replied.

“Then I might not be able to wait for you,” Brother White Goat said, looking at the three of us meaningfully. “I’m leaving tonight.”

“T-Tonight?!”

We all knew this day would come—but none of us could accept it actually arriving.

“That’s right… After tonight, I’ll be the Celestial Goat, free to come and go from ‘Terminus’ as I please.” Brother White Goat gave a bitter smile, then looked at us again. “Do you… have anything to say to me?”